61% want US employers to offer paid volunteering leave

Over half (61%) of US employee respondents would like paid leave to engage in volunteering opportunities, according to research by Cone Communications.

Its 2016 Cone Communications employee engagement study, which surveyed 1,020 American adults employed at organisations with more than 1,000 staff, also found that 67% would like to engage in volunteering through organisation-wide days of service, and a further 67% would like to take part in corporate-led activities throughout the year.

The research also found:

More than half (58%) want to do volunteering after hours, and 63% are looking to do micro-volunteering.

Almost three-quarters (74%) of respondents feel their job is more fulfilling when provided with opportunities to make an impact on social and environmental issues.

70% of respondents admitted to being more loyal to an organisation that helps them contribute to important issues.

71% of respondents want their organisation to provide opportunities for employees to have a positive impact on social and environmental commitments within the organisation.

93% of respondents want to work for an organisation that cares about them as an individual.

92% of respondents would like a competitive financial package as an employee benefit.

69% would like wellness programmes as an employee benefit, and 66% want to be reimbursed for tuition.

Alison DaSilva, executive vice president, corporate responsibility research and insights at Cone Communications, said: “As employees integrate their work and personal lives, they see coming to the office as much more than collecting a paycheck. They are not limiting their social consciousness to after work hours and want their employers to give them opportunities to make a meaningful difference, whether that’s providing a platform for supporting personal issues or being an active participant in their [organisation’s] corporate responsibility efforts.”